Side ditch scraper for ditchers



Nov. 10, 1931.

E. R. SEWARD SIDE DITCH SCRAPER FOR DITCHERS Filed Sept. 15 .1930

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 41 J I 2 if E Q Y 1. 5's ward Nov. 10, 1931. E. R. SEWARD sxms DITCH scm aa FOR DITCHBRS Filed Sept. 15, 1930 3.Sheets-Sheet 5 @lvwwvhw ER. 5's Ward Patented Nov. 10,

EMMETT R. SEWARD, 0F BRADY, TEXAS sine nrrcri scaarnn roa mrcnzaas Ap lication med September 15, 1930. Serial naesaoes.

of the buckets.

A further object of the invention is to provide side scrapers which may be swiveled on a vertical axis to any desired angle and which may be shifted laterally on a horizontal pivotal axis whereby the scrapers maybe ad- 'justed to any width of ditch.

A still further object is to provide side scrapers which can be adjusted toward vor away from the ditcher to conform to the angle of the bucketconveyer in a deep or shallow ditch.

A still further object of the invention is to "provide side scrapers which may be elevated so as to beout of the way when not in 'use. r

"A still further obj eat is to provide side scrapers which are composed of a few simple,

- inexpensive anddu'rable parts which will be manufactured at a'minimum cost and which may be appliedto any makeditcher without alteration to the-latter.

With the above and other objects of the invention'the invention consists in certain noveldeta'ilsof construction and combination of parts hereinafter claimed, it being understood that various' modifications may be scope of the appended from the spirit th fully described and resorted to within the claims without departereof.

in V c i in the accompanying drawings forming part of this speclficatlon',

Figure 1- ma fragmentary side elevation of a ditcher equippedscrapers,

Fig. 2 is a rearel showing the side scra tion, a

. Fig.3 is a detail, '1)

with my improved. side evation of the ditcher pers in operative posilan view of oneof the side scrapers andshowing the same in dotted lines in an adjusted position on its horizontal pivotal axis, 4 r

Fig. l is a'detail plan View of one :of the side scrapers with parts removed and showing the scraper in dotted lines swiveled to' an adjusted position on-itsvertica1pivot -1Fig.'5 is a sectional-viewtakenon the'line 5%5' ofFig. 4-. landxshowing the adjusting bolt andthe vertical pivot bolt of the scraper,

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken on the line 6+6 of-Fig.; 5, a

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the hoist, and Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the hand wheel'and ratchet mechanism'of the .hoist.

Referring now to the drawingsin which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the variousviews,t 1O designates the rear portion of aditcherand 'llathe'endless conveyer chain which carries thezbuckets 12 of the ditcher. The ditcher may be any makeandforms noipart 0f the present invention. a

In carrying out the invention, I provide a pair of curved side scrapers 13', each of which is equipped at the Working edge with a cutting blade 1 which preferably is'removably secured in'position by bolts 15. -Each scraper is provided with vertically aligned vopenings 16, best shownin Fig; 1, and preferably arranged in sets of threes whereby the scraper may be adjusted longitudinally, as will presentlyappear. a c J a Each scraper is provided with lan'arcuate angle iron bracket 17, the ends 18'which are bent downwardly and then curved rearwardly, as shown at '19, to lieialong the rear face-of the scraper. Bolts 20 are passed through said :rearwardlyi curved portions and through apair of theopenings 16. Bee tween the ends 18 of the arcuate bracketv an angle iron bracket 21 is positioned andfis provided with a curved lower end 22;,which .is

likewise'bolted; as shfown at 23, to the'scra per. It will be observed that the scraper as well as the arcuate bracket 17 and the bracket 21 form a unitary assembly to which the scraper is secured by the bolts 20 and 23, which latter may be selectively engaged in any pair of the openings 16 to adjust the the angle iron bar and through the bent over end of the center bracket 21 of the scraper, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. An adjusting bolt 26 is passed through the bottom flange of the angle iron supporting bar and is selectively engaged in any one of a series of openings 27 formed in the arcuate bracket 17, as also best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The scraper may consequently be swiveled on the Vertical pivot bolt to any desired position transversely of the supporting bar 24 and locked in this adjusted position by the adjusting bolt 26, as best shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to Fig.3,

it will be seenthat a pair of bars 28 and 29 are bolted to the upright flange of the angle iron supporting bar 24, as shown at 30 and 31. These bars are provided with eyes32 and 33 respectively which rotatably receive a horizontal pivot shaft 34. Said pivot shaft at the inner end is bent rearwardly, as shown at 35, and isbolted, as shown at 36, to any convenient part-of the ditcher. Furthermore, a pair of 'bracelbars 37 and 38: are secured to the outer end of the pivot shaft, as shown at 39 in Fig. 2, and the forward ends of these brace bars are bolted as shown at 40 and 41 to any convenient part of the ditcher. It will be observed by again referring to Fig. 3 that set screws 42 are passed through the eyes 32. The purpose of these set screws is to permit ofthe scraper being adjusted laterally on the horizontal pivot shaft 34, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

There is still another adjustment that may be made to adjust the scraper longitudinally toward or away fromthe ditcher and by referring to Figs. 1 and 5 it will be seen that the angle iron supporting bar 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 43 in the upstanding flange thereof. These slots .receivethe above described bolts 30 and 31 rear end of the ditcher and by adjusting the bolts to the rear ends of the slots the scraper will be adjusted to lie, closer, to the'rear end of the ditcher. A more exaggerated adjust ment may be obtained, of course, by positioning the bolts in other slots of theiine of slots 43 toward the rear end of the bar 24. The purpose of this longitudinal adjustment of the scraper on the supporting bar 24 is to permit of the scraper being positioned to meet the different angles of travel of the buckets for deep or shallow ditches. Of course, when the ditch is deep, the buckets will travel at a more vertical angle, hence closer to the ditcher, and the scraper must therefore be moved to travel closer, and vice versa in case of a shallow ditch.

It will now be seen that each scraper is adj ustable in three different ways. First, each scraper may be swiveled on the vertical pivot bolt 25, as shown in Fig. 4, or may be adjusted laterally on the horizontal pivot shaft 34, as shown in Fig. 3, 01' may be adjusted toward or away from the rear of the ditcher by adjustment of the bolts 24, as is obvious by referring to Fig. 1. An additional adjustment of the, scraper transversely of the supporting bar 24 by manipulation of the bolts 20 and 23, Figure 1, is also per.- mitted. H

For elevating the scraper, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, when not in use,'a hoisting drum 44 is provided with a shaft 45 which. is equipped with a hand wheel 46,'the shaft being journaled in suitable bearings 47 and 48, Figure 7, which are integral with a bracket 49. The bracket is bolted, as shown" at 50 in Figure 3, to a channel iron base plate 51. In Fig. 4 the base plateis shown with the hoisting drum removed and this figure also shows thatthe base plateis bolted, as shown at 52, to the upright flange of the supporting bar 24 underneath the arm 29.

Referring back to Figure 7, it will be seen that the shaft 45 and the drum 44 are secured together as a unit by a bolt 53. To this bolt is connected the busy end of a cable 54, best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same being trained over a sheave carried on the extended end 56, Figure 2, of a shaft 57 which in most cases forms a part of the ditcher, the shaft being supported by channel iron members 58 and 59, best shown in Fig. 1. The cable 54 is connected preferably to an eye bolt 60, which eye bolt is carried by the slotted angle iron supporting bar 24, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Obviously, the cable may be wound upon the drum 44'by means of the hand wheel 46 to elevate the scraper to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.1, or lower the scraper to operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.-

By referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that a ratchet 61 is secured to'the. drum shaft 45 and is engaged by adog-or pawl 62 carried by a lug 63, Fig. 3, on the bracket 49 to maintain the scraper in either raised or lowered position laterally of the ditcher.

' In operation, the scrapers above described are disposed laterally of the bucket conveyor 11 and operate to scrape back into the ditch- "a scraper attached to the ditcher, means for from said ditcher to accommodate the scrap-1 sen-gen the dirt which is spilled from the buckets. By adjusting the scrapers toward or away from the ditcher, as above described, or swiveling the scrapers on their vertical pivots, as well as by adjusting the scrapers longitudinally and means for adjusting the scrapers lateral- 1y toward and away from the ditcher to accommodate the scrapers to various widths of ditches. v

2. The combination with a ditcher of side scrapers adapted to scrape back into the ditch the dirt spilled by the buckets of the ditcher, means for adjusting the scrapers on horizontal pivots toward and away from the ditcher to accommodate the scrapers to various widths of ditches, and means for elevating said scrapers onsaid horizontal pivots when not in use.

3. The combination with a ditcher of side scrapers, a horizontal pivot for each side raising and lowering said scrapers on said pivots, and means for ad usting sa d scrapers on said plvots laterally toward and away ers to various widths of ditches.

4. The combination with a ditcher of side scrapers, means pivotally connecting the side scrapers to the ditcher, and means operatively connecting each scraper to'the first named means whereby each scraper may be adjusted bodily toward or away from the rear end of the ditcher to accommodate the scrapers to the angular position of the bucket conveyer in deep or shallow ditches.

The combination with a ditcher of side scrapers, a supporting bar for each side scraper extending substantially parallel with the axis of the ditcher, means for pivotally connecting each scraper to each supporting bar, means forlocking each scraper in various adjusted positions transversely of itspivotal movement on said bar, and means for attaching said bars pivotally to the ditcher.

6. The combination with a ditcher of side a horizontal pivot shaft carried by the scrap er, liars connected to said supporting bar and having eyes rotatably receiving said pivot shaft, set screws carried by said eye-s whereby said supporting bar may be adjusted longitudinally of said pivot shaft, and a hoist operatively connected to said supporting bar for rocking said bar upwardly on said pivot shaft. v q

7, The combination with a ditcher of a hem/manly ldisp'ose'dj pivot shaft-extending laterally from the ditcher, a supporting bar pivotally connected *tosaid "pivot shaft, a

scraper having a vertical pivot 'operatively cOnnected-tosaid supporting bar intermediate' the-ends thereof, anarcuate braeketcar ried by saidscraperfhaving a series of open- -ings,= an adjusting bolt passed through said supporting bar and one of 1 said openings whereby toholdsaid scraper at any angular position transversely of saidsupporting' bar,

and means for adjustably securing said supporting bar longitudinally'of said pivot shaft whereby said scraper may be adjusted bodily i transversely of the ditcher. 1

8. The combination with a ditcher of a side scraper, a supporting bar for the side scraper extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ditcher, said supporting bar having a series of longitudinal slots therein, a horizontal pivot shaft carried by the ditcher, bars pivoted on said shaft and extending along said supporting bar, and adjusting bolts passed through the last named bars and said supporting bar for adjusting) said scraper bodily toward or away from said ditcher to accommodate the scraper to the angular position of the scraper buckets in deep or shallow ditches.

9. The combination with a ditcher of a side 55 scraper, a supporting bar for the side scraper extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ditcher, a pivotal connection between said scraper and said supporting bar whereby said scraper may be I00 adjusted at various angular positions transversely of said bar, a pivot shaft carried by the scraper, bars pivotally connected to said shaft, andmeans adjustably connecting the free ends of said bars to said supporting bar whereby said supporting bar. may be adjusted bodily toward or awayfrom said ditcher.

10. The combination with a ditcher of a scraper, an arcuate bracket connected at the ends to said scraper, a bracket disposed lietween the ends of said arcuate bracket, asupporting bar extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of'the ditcher, a pivotal connection between said centrally dis posed bracket and said supporting bar, an l fi adjusting bolt passed through said supporting bar and selectively engageable in a series of openings formed in said arcuate bracket whereby to maintain said scraper in any desired angular position transversely of saidsupporting bar, and means pivotally securing said supporting bar to said ditcher whereby the scraper may be raised or lowered bodily. 11. The combination with a ditcher of a scraper, a blade attached to the lower end .of'

said scraper, a supporting bar for the scraper extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ditcher, a pivotal connection between saidsupporting bar and said scraper whereby said scraper may be swiveled -l m transversely of the supporting bar,- an adjusting bolt operatively connected to said supporting bar and to said scraper for holding said scraper in various adjusted positions, a bar pivotally connected to said scraper, and an adjusting bolt passed through the free end of said bar and selectively engageable in a series of longitudinal slots formed in said supporting bar whereby said supporting bar and scraper may be adjusted bodily toward or away from said ditcher.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. EMMETT R. SEWVAR-D. 

